Device for Carrying Bags

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a device for carrying one or more bags is described. The device includes a body comprising a clasp and a curved member. The clasp is configured to removably couple the curved member so that the body defines a closed loop. The curved member has an open position wherein the curved member is configured to receive one or more bags and a closed position wherein the curved member is coupled by the clasp and secured thereto by force directed towards the clasp by the curved member.

BACKGROUND

Bags are utilized to transport items. Bags are often manufactured with one or more handles or openings to ease the task of carrying such bags for users.

However, such handles or openings can be difficult to hold or grasp. The items in the bags can also cause the bags to be heavy or cumbersome causing further difficulty. In addition, users often find it difficult to carry multiple bags at one time because the handles or openings of bags can make it difficult to hold or grasp multiple bags.

Numerous devices exist that attempt to address the difficulties described above. For instance, a series of patents have been issued relating to bag carriers where attempts have been made to eliminate the difficulty in carrying multiple bags.

Nonetheless, such conventional devices have failed to gain much commercial success. Many potential users do not feel that the benefit afforded by conventional devices is worth their cost for purchase. The cost of conventional devices can be attributed, in part, to the expense of manufacturing and marketing such devices. Furthermore, the utility of conventional devices is not readily ascertainable so users may not appreciate the potential assistance that such devices can provide.

As such, a need exists for a device that can assist in carrying one or more bags that is inexpensive, readily available and can be easily utilized by potential users.

SUMMARY

Other features and aspects of the present disclosure are discussed in greater detail below.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a device for carrying one or more bags is described. The device includes a body comprising a clasp and a curved member. The clasp is configured to removably couple the curved member so that the body defines a closed loop. The curved member has an open position wherein the curved member is configured to receive one or more bags and a closed position wherein the curved member is coupled by the clasp and secured thereto by force directed towards the clasp by the curved member.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a device for carrying one or more bags is described. The device includes a body comprising a clasp and a curved member. The curved member defines an end with the clasp configured to removably couple the end of the curved member so that the body defines a closed loop. The body further defines a surface that includes an advertisement. The curved member has an open position wherein the curved member is configured to receive one or more bags and a closed position wherein the curved member is coupled by the clasp and secured thereto by force directed towards the clasp by the curved member.

Other features and aspects of the present disclosure are discussed in greater detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, which makes reference to the appended figure in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a device that can be used in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a device that can be used in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a device that can be used in accordance with the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a device that can be used in accordance with the present disclosure.

Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to various embodiments of the disclosure, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the disclosure, not limitation of the disclosure. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

The present disclosure is generally directed to a device for carrying one or more bags. A device as described herein can assist a user in carrying such bag(s) with greater ease and comfort than would be possible otherwise. A device of the present disclosure is also easier to manufacture and use than conventional devices. Furthermore, the device can include advertisements which can offset the cost of providing such a device to a user. The device can thereby be provided to a user at a nominal cost or no cost at all.

In this regard, referring to FIG. 1, a device 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. The device includes a body 12. The body 12 includes a clasp 14 and a curved member 16.

The clasp 14 is configured to receive a portion of curved member 16. The clasp 14 removably couples a portion of curved member 16 so that the body 12 defines a closed loop. The clasp 14 can be of any suitable shape and/or size to removably couple a portion of curved member 16. For instance, the clasp 14 can be from about 0.5 cm to about 5 cm in length, or any suitable length as would be known in the art. The clasp 14 can be of complimentary shape to a portion of curved member 16 so as to receive that portion of curved member 16. For instance, as illustrated in FIG. 1, curved member 16 is of generally cylindrical shape and clasp 14 is shaped to fit around a portion curved member 16. The portion of curved member 16 positioned in clasp 14 can be kept in place by pressure applied against clasp 14 by curved member 16.

In certain embodiments, clasp 16 can define a notch 18 that further assists in keeping curved member 16 positioned in clasp 14. In this regard, notch 18 can allow a user to “click” curved member 16 within clasp 14.

In still other embodiments, clasp 16 can define an opening (not illustrated) that is capable of receiving a corresponding notch (not illustrated) on the portion of curved member 16 positioned therein. The opening and notch can assist in keeping the portion of curved member 16 positioned in clasp 14.

The curved member 16 can be of any suitable shape and size to permit the body 12 to define a closed loop when the curved member 16 is coupled to clasp 14. For instance, as described above, the curved member 16 can be generally cylindrical in shape. The curved member 16 can be from about 10 cm to about 30 cm in length, or any suitable length as would be known in the art. The curved member 16 can have an open position 24 when it is not coupled by clasp 14 (FIG. 1) and a closed position 26 when it is coupled by clasp 14 (FIG. 2).

The curved member 16 can be configured to bend so as to allow it to be moved from the open position 24 to the closed position 26. The bending action is intuitive and can be easily performed by a user enabling a user to quickly ascertain the benefit provided by the device 10. In this regard, the curved member 16 is biased to being in the open position 24 which causes the curved member 16 to exert a force against the clasp 14 when coupled in the closed position 26. Curved member 16 can be formed from a semi-flexible material to allow for such bending. In certain embodiments, curved member 16 can include a hinge and/or spring to permit bending.

In addition, the curved member 16 can define an end portion 22 that is coupled to the clasp 14 in the closed position 26. However, the clasp 14 can receive any suitable portion of the curved member 16 so that the body 12 defines a closed loop.

The body 12 can also include a handle 28. The handle 28 can assist a user in grasping and holding the device 10. The handle 28 can be of any suitable size and/or shape so as to permit a user to grasp and hold the device 10 with one hand. For instance, the handle 28 can define ridges 30 of suitable size to receive one or more fingers of a user's hand.

The body 12 can further define one or more surfaces for presenting an advertisement 32. In this regard, an advertisement can refer to any form of communication to inform potential customers about products and services. Any suitable advertisement 32 can be located on the body 12. For instance, advertisement 32 can be adhered to body 12 such as by a sticker or the like. Advertisement 32 can also be molded into body 12. In this manner, the present inventors have determined that the costs of providing device 10 can be offset by companies seeking to advertise their goods and/or services on the device 10 so that the device 10 can be offered to consumers for little or no cost. For example, the device 10 can be located in stores at or near check-out counters so that consumers can utilize the device 10 to carry one or more bags containing items purchased out of the store. A company seeking to capitalize on the utility and benefit of the device 10 can pay to advertise on the device 10. In this manner, the store and/or provider of the device can provide customers with a benefit while recouping some or all of its costs associated with such benefit.

Advertisement 32 can be located on any suitable surface of body 12 including the clasp, curved member, and/or handle. Advertisement 32 can be located on one or both sides of body 12.

The device 10 of the present disclosure can be formed of any suitable material including any suitable plastic or metal material. For example, in certain embodiments, the device 10 of the present disclosure can be formed from high impact polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, aluminum, or combinations thereof. The material can be flexible enough to allow some bending, yet rigid enough to support from about 10 lbs. to about 50 lbs. of weight. In certain embodiments, the various components of body 12 can be molded together so that the device 10 is integrally formed. The device 10 can be formed utilizing suitable techniques as would be known in the art, such as injection molding or the like. In still other embodiments, the various components can be attached or affixed to one another as would be known in the art by utilizing adhesives, fasteners, or the like.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, suitable methods of utilizing the device 10 of the present disclosure will be described. A user 34 can position the handle or opening 36 of one or more bag 38 over the curved member 16. The user 34 can then bend the curved member 16 from the open position 24 to the closed position 26 wherein the curved member is retained in position by clasp 14. The user can then carry the device 10 utilizing the handle 28.

In the interests of brevity and conciseness, any ranges of values set forth in this specification are to be construed as written description support for claims reciting any sub-ranges having endpoints which are whole number values within the specified range in question. By way of a hypothetical illustrative example, a disclosure in this specification of a range of 1-5 shall be considered to support claims to any of the following sub-ranges: 1-4; 1-3; 1-2; 2-5; 2-4; 2-3; 3-5; 3-4; and 4-5.

These and other modifications and variations to the present disclosure can be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments can be interchanged both in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the disclosure so further described in such appended claims. 

1. A device for carrying one or more bags, the device comprising a body, the body comprising a clasp and a curved member, the curved member comprising a generally cylindrical portion with the clasp configured to removably couple the curved member and receive the generally cylindrical portion so that the body defines a closed loop, wherein the body further defines a surface that includes an advertisement; the curved member having an open position wherein the curved member is configured to receive one or more bags; the curved member having a closed position wherein the curved member is coupled by the clasp and secured thereto by force directed towards the clasp by the curved member.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises plastic.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises metal.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises high impact polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, aluminum, or combinations thereof.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is unitary.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a handle.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the handle defines ridges of suitable size to receive one or more fingers of a user's hand. 8-9. (canceled)
 10. The device of claim 6, wherein the handle defines a surface suitable for displaying an advertisement.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the surface includes an advertisement.
 12. A device for carrying one or more bags, the device comprising a body, the body comprising a clasp and a curved member, having a generally cylindrical portion, the curved member defining an end, the clasp configured to removably couple the end of the curved member and receive the generally cylindrical portion so that the body defines a closed loop, the body further defining a surface that includes an advertisement; the curved member having an open position wherein the curved member is configured to receive one or more bags; the curved member having a closed position wherein the curved member is coupled by the clasp and secured thereto by force directed towards the clasp by the curved member.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the device comprises plastic.
 14. The device of claim 12, wherein the device comprises metal.
 15. The device of claim 12, wherein the device comprises high impact polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, aluminum, or combinations thereof.
 16. The device of claim 12, wherein the device is unitary.
 17. The device of claim 12, wherein the body further comprises a handle.
 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the handle defines ridges of suitable size to receive one or more fingers of a user's hand.
 19. The device of claim 17, wherein the advertisement is located on the handle.
 20. (canceled) 